Dental crowns and bridges. Are they cosmetic, or restorative? The answer is yes! Imagine regaining tip-top bite function AND filling a gap in your smile or restoring a damaged tooth. For such critical restorative and cosmetic dentistry in NYC, look no further than Brooklyn Dental Collective. Dr. Stephanie Sager offers a level of personalized care that will make you feel like part of our family.

What is a Dental Crown?

A crown is a restoration that replaces the natural crown of the tooth. There are a variety of materials that dental crowns can be made of, including gold, zirconia, ceramic, and resin. At Brooklyn Dental Collective, we want your strong teeth to look beautiful and natural. We offer two types of ceramic crowns: Emax, made of lithium distillate glass, and zirconia, which is made of zirconium dioxide. The benefits of Emax and zirconia crowns include:

• Both types of crowns are tooth-colored to match your existing dentition. 
• They offer less temperature sensitivity than metal crowns.
• Both materials are non-reactive, so they’re good crown materials for patients with metal sensitivities. 
• While metal is the most durable crown material, both Emax and zirconia are both stronger than your tooth’s own enamel.

As for which type of crown is best for you, Dr. Sager will make a recommendation and help you decide. It will depend upon a number of factors including the condition of the tooth under the crown, its location in your mouth, and whether or not you clench or grind your teeth.

When is a Dental Crown Needed?

Dental crowns stand in for natural teeth under all sorts of circumstances. Crowns can be placed for cosmetic or functional reasons (or both). Reasons for getting a dental crown may include:

• A tooth is cracked, broken, or damaged
• Decay in the natural tooth is too extensive to fix with a filling
• Root canal therapy was performed on a tooth and a filling cannot fix the tooth fully
• A tooth is missing entirely (in this case, an implant would be placed to support the crown)
• A veneer isn’t possible due to previous dental work or decay

What is the Dental Crown Procedure?

The procedure for a crown is very similar to that for veneers. Once we’ve discussed treatment options, and you’ve decided upon a crown, you’ll make appointments for the two-part procedure.

1. At your first appointment, we’ll start by taking an impression of your mouth and numbing the tooth with local anesthesia. 
2. The dentist or an assistant will choose a shade of white for your crown that best matches your natural teeth.
3. Next, the dentist will prep the tooth. This means removing tooth structure down to the center portion, or core, of the natural tooth’s crown.
4. We’ll take an impression of the prepped tooth so the lab can make a perfect fit.
5. If needed, in the case of a front tooth, for example, Dr. Sager will place a temporary crown, and you’ll go on your way! 
6. Once the lab has made your permanent crown, you’ll come back for the second appointment. Here, we’ll numb you up one more time and remove the temporary crown. 
7. Dr. Sager will clean the tooth thoroughly and cement the permanent crown in place. Now you’ve got your beautiful new tooth!

Are Dental Crowns Permanent?

Yes they are! Like all dental restorations, you may need a replacement someday, but the procedure is indeed permanent. And what a great permanent restoration it is–this best-of-both-worlds option allows you to keep the root and core of your own tooth, which is ideal. Meanwhile, you get a strong replacement for the damaged functional part of the tooth!

What is a Dental Bridge?

Dental bridges serve a similar restorative and cosmetic function to crowns, restoring bite function and replacing a tooth. But bridges generally fill in when teeth are missing entirely, particularly if implants aren’t possible or opted for. Occasionally, patients require an extraction prior to receiving a dental bridge, if for example, the tooth cannot be saved with a filling or crown.

Types of Dental Bridges

A variety of types of bridges exist, including cantilever, implant-supported, and Maryland bridges, but the most common is the traditional fixed bridge. This involves using a crown on both teeth adjacent to the bridge to support it.

Dental Crowns and Dental Bridges in NYC

Call Brooklyn Dental Collective to set up an appointment today. We take a great deal of pride in building treatment plans that reflect our patients’ individual needs. We’ll help you discern the best option for you, whether it’s a dental crown, bridge, other cosmetic dentistry treatment, or something else. We provide truly customized restorative and cosmetic dentistry in NYC.

Dr. Stephanie Sager — Your dentist with heart,
in the heart of Williamsburg!